No Dog Leash Is 100% Safe
While all the dog leashes we reviewed above are durable and safe to a great extent, you can’t rely on them completely when it comes to the safety of your furry companion. This is especially given the fact that it’s not very uncommon to get a defective leash, or have a leash suddenly break while walking your pet pooch.
This means that while a good retractable canine leash will make your job much easier, you would still have to make sure your pooch is always safe when being out.
In fact, most dog trainers and veterinarians wouldn't recommend a retractable dog leash.
To add to our reasons to not completely rely on your leash, dog leashes – no matter how strong the material they are made of – can be chewed through by strong chewers, especially if they try to do it every now and then.
That’s not saying these leashes are dangerous; they are usually pretty safe, but you do need to be a bit careful about these issues and keep an eye on your dog even when walking with the retractable leash on. Also, never take signs of wear on your leash lightly, and replace it if you think it might get completely ripped anytime during your walks.
If you walk your dog when it’s dark out there, you would want to get a leash made using a reflective material, so that it’s easily visible and you don’t lose track of it.
Finally, don’t overlook the overall functioning of the retractable leash, as it’s equally important for your dog’s safety. If the leash doesn’t glide in and out smoothly – and the brake system is difficult to use or misses to put the brake sometimes – avoid that retractable leash like the plague.
Never Choose A Cheaply Made Product
A cheaply made retractable canine leash may pose great risks to the safety of your dog. Canine accidents due to the leash being low-quality and getting ripped exactly at the wrong time aren’t uncommon.
Look for a retractable leash made using a strong material. The ones made using high-quality nylon or that are a “ribbon” leash generally tend to be more durable than cord leashes.
While not necessary, double-stitching can improve the durability of the retractable leash, and sometimes, even improve the visibility.
All sellers mention the “capacity” of their leash, which is basically the weight of the dog it can handle safely. The ones that are rated for dogs up to 100 lbs or more would turn out to be the best bet for large dogs, while the ones rated for up to 70 lbs or lower would be a good choice for medium-sized dogs and puppies.
Likewise, it’s important to note that a puppy may not be comfortable with a retractable leash designed for large dogs weighing much more. So if you have a puppy, you would want to get a leash designed for smaller dogs and puppies.
Other Features To Consider
Leash Length
The retractable leash length is obviously a basic but important consideration. Most dog leashes come with a length of 16 feet, which should be enough for most dogs.
However, if your pooch likes to wander a lot or you like to take your furry buddy to a park, then our top pick with 26 feet length would make more sense for you.
Locking Mechanism
The locking system must be fast and easy to use, and it’s a great bonus is it’s more flexible as well. The brake shouldn’t let the leash being pulled more as soon as it’s applied.
Some retractable leashes allow you to set a particular length as an automatic length, which is a great feature to have if you tend to walk your canine companion in crowded areas.
Another leash on our list above comes with a temporary lock feature, which helps stop a dog quickly without any yanking, which can be the case when putting a full lock out of nowhere, especially when your pooch is running fast towards something.
Tangle-Free Retractable Leashes
The tangling is another area that needs your attention. Many retractable leashes are good, until they end up tangled, which can then take quite a while to untangle. It can obviously get frustrating and even be harmful for your pooch.
All the retractable leashes we picked in this post are either tangle-free or easy to untangle, which makes them a great choice, particularly for dogs that like to move around in all directions when taken on a walk.
Ergonomic Grip & Handle
The quality of the handle and grip, too, can be more important than you think. Some customers report of the handle being uncomfortable to hold, or being slippery, which can be dangerous too if your pooch is a heavy puller.
We have also considered this factor when reviewing the products in this post. So if you’re to pick one of the canine retractable leashes here, you likely wouldn’t have any problems with respect to the handle grip.
In fact, for our top pick, one of the customers that bought it even mentioned that their 5-year-old can hold the retractable dog leash without any problem, which is pretty impressive when comparing with some other cheaper products on the market.
